Arlington resident Mary Shepherd Cottrell, a long time member of Rock Spring Garden Club, has the distinction of being chosen to receive the 2013 Award of Honor from the district, state and regional levels of National Garden Clubs, Inc.
“This is a prestigious honor for her, and a great honor for our club,” said Thea McGinnis, president of RSGC.
On March 26, Cottrell received the Award of Honor from District III and afterwards the state award from National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc., which consists of 90 clubs in four districts and is the state organization for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area for National Garden Clubs, Inc. At the national level, Cottrell then won the 2013 Award of Honor for the Central Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc., which will be presented at its annual convention in Seattle in May.
This award at all levels “celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of individual National Garden Club members” whose volunteer efforts have significantly contributed to their club and community.
Since Cottrell joined Rock Spring Garden Club in 1999, she has served as president, as editor of RSGC’s newsletter and yearbook, and on various committees and as club photographer. She also served as NCAGC District III Director in 2007 for two years.
A state life member, Cottrell has continued working with District III as an advisor, on its publicity, and as editor of its newsletter. She often has served informally as Rock Spring Garden Club’s bridge to the district, state and region levels of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., organization.
Cottrell has her own desktop publishing firm, Creative Impressions of Arlington, LLC, serving local community and statewide nonprofits. She has been an Arlington resident since 1972.
For 13 years Cottrell served on the State PTA Board and took an active role in leadership conferences in Virginia.